2 Types of Behavioral Psychology: methodological and radical

Learn more about what behavioral psychology is and the two types of behaviorism: radical and methodological.

In the first chapter of the book edited by Vicente Caballo, Manual of Therapy Techniques and Behavior Modificationchapter entitled “Origins, Recent History, Current Issues and Future States of Behavior Therapy: A Conceptual Review”, Cyril M. Franks, we find some very important definitions about behavioral psychology.

Those who have not studied or gone deeper into this area of ​​psychology may think that it is a univocal area, with a single study methodology, epistemology, and a set of techniques consistent with the assumptions. However, this is not the case. In this text, we will address the differences between methodological behaviorism and radical behaviorism. Remembering that the word behaviorism comes from the English word behavior, which means behavior. Therefore, when we talk about radical behaviorism versus methodological behaviorism we are talking about two types of behavioral psychology.

What is Behavioral Psychology?

A concise and universally shared definition of what behavioral psychology is does not exist. But we can situate the attempt at a global definition in two ways: doctrinal definition and epistemological definition.

“Doctrinal definitions attempt to link CT to doctrines, theories, laws, or learning principles. Epistemological definitions are more inclined to characterize CT in terms of different ways of studying clinical phenomena. In general, doctrinal definitions tend to be more narrow and, on the other hand, do not fit all of CT, whereas epistemological definitions tend to be overly accommodative and therefore potentially applicable to many non-behavioral therapies” (Franks , p. 12).

In other words, a doctrinal definition would be one that links behavioral psychology to a specific school or author. For example, Pavlov’s behavioral psychology of classical conditioning or Skinner’s behavioral psychology of operant conditioning; while the epistemological position links the definition to the way intervention, evaluation, diagnosis and clinical application are studied. On the one hand, the doctrinal definition is problematic because it excludes other schools or authors, and is therefore excessively limiting. On the other hand, the epistemological position is broader, and may cause other approaches to psychology to be included (without necessarily being behavioral psychology in understanding these approaches themselves).

Franks proposes the following definition:

“Behavioral therapy mainly involves the application of principles derived from research in experimental and social psychology to the relief of people’s suffering and the progress of human functioning. Behavior therapy emphasizes a systematic appreciation of the effectiveness of these applications. Behavioral therapy involves altering the environment and social interaction rather than directly altering bodily processes through biological procedures.

The purpose is essentially educational. Techniques facilitate greater self-control. In the application of behavior therapy, a contractual agreement is usually negotiated in which mutually agreeable procedures and goals are specified. Those who employ behavioral approaches responsibly are guided by widely accepted ethical principles” (Franks and Wilson, 1975, p. 1).

2 Types of Behavioral Psychology: methodological and radical

The above definition is general. On closer study, therefore, we might come to the idea that behavioral psychology is a unified and consistent whole. However, when we delve deeper, we see that there are currents in debate. Authors who defend one extreme and authors who defend another extreme and, still, authors who are in the middle.

For example, for many, Aaron Beck’s cognitive revolution creates another approach that should be called cognitive psychology. An approach, therefore, different and distant from behavioral psychology. For others, cognitive psychology is behavioral psychology. Hence the term cognitive-behavioral psychology.

Another way to find a definition of what behavioral psychology is is given by epistemology:

methodological behaviorism

“At least two classes of behaviorism can be identified. For the methodological behaviorist, behavior can be investigated and explained without a direct examination of mental states. This behaviorism tends to be mediational, if it accepts the existence of mental states on an inferential basis, and mediational, intervening variables are the usual basis for formal investigation and theoretical consistency. The hypothetical-deductive methodology is usually the chosen strategy for such investigations. It is perfectly possible to be a methodological behaviorist and support concepts such as free will, self-control, cognition, and perceiving oneself (Franks, p. 14).

radical behaviorism

“In opposition is the metaphysical or radical behaviorist, who denies the existence of mental states as useful propositions. The radical behaviorist tends to be non-mediational, anti-mentalist, never inferential and to favor induction over formal hypothesis testing” (Franks, p. 14).

In psychology faculties, it is common to find professors who are from the behavioral psychology approach, but some being methodological and others radical.

Skinner defined his approach as radical behaviorism (as opposed to the methodological behaviorism of Watson, Hull, and Tolman) because it considered not only observable behaviors, but also so-called covert behaviors such as self-control, thinking, among others. The difference to other types of “mentalist” psychology consists in the attempt to establish functional relationships between the environment and such behaviors. That is, there is no denial of these behaviors that cannot be directly observed by other observers – excluding the individual himself – however, there is no need to create entities such as intelligence, personality, motivation, etc.

Learn more in our Video Course – Skinner – On Behaviorism

Conclusion

As we have seen, it is not possible to point to a single definition of behavioral psychology, which brings us the possibility of deepening each of the perspectives within this approach to psychology, to learn more about the most influential authors and schools in the field.

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